fall wall + today

Oh, how I love these people I live with!  I am so thankful that they put up with my tired, moody, hungry-for-the-most-random-stuff-and-need-it-right-now pregnant self.   Look at these girls.  I'm trying to teach modesty here, but mercy, they are so blissfully happy when I let them jump on the trampoline topless.  :)  Sweet sisters.  They are starting to play together more.  Playing is not straight-forward as it is for boys, that is for sure.  Boys play, disagree, walk-away, and move on.  I'm encouraging the use of words, compromise and lots and lots of patience with these precious daughters. I love to see them play together!

This is one awesome man.  He cooks, he cleans, he takes all three kids on multiple errands and he grooms the dog.   He AMAZES me-I adore you Dan. 

Reecie and I did a little rearranging on our picture wall.  I took the mason candle jars down from the hooks on the second shelf and tied a little jute to the end hooks.  Added some clothes pins and we chose some current and past seasonal artwork from my little Picasso's and voila!  It feels like fall now.  :)  I love pulling out the kids old artwork and using them as decor on this wall with each season.  The second one from the right is something Graham made in Kindergarten, it says:  " I go to pupkin  I luv pupkins."  That was after we went to the most awesome pumpkin patch while living in Charlotte.  

Reecie surprised  G + C this afternoon with a scavenger hunt.  She asked me to get the Easter baskets down and made a "list" of items:  pumpkin, clothespin, little ball and a string.  She is so creative!  Graham found two of the items and Reecie "found" the rest.  ;)

a little "catch-up"

So much to share!  I have still been down with all-day sickness, even now at almost thirteen weeks, I have several hours of the day (mostly late afternoon) where I just feel like I could get sick at any moment, although I never actually do.  BUT-even then, with three children, life must go ON.  I am so grateful for friends, family and Dan-my-man to pick up the slack.  Mom took the kids to Classical Conversations for two weeks in a row when I was at my worst, and last week Millie had Strep and the rest had some sort of upper respiratory virus. Even though the rest of our crew was down and feeling yuck, last weekend I had more energy and less nausea than I have had in months.  So what did I do with that energy?  Why, clean out everyone's closets of course!  It felt so good to purge and sort.  Although, I only organize for necessity these days (instead of as a hobby)  :)   it is such great therapy!  Truly, I slept better that night after organized closets than I have in MONTHS.

Anyway, this will be a week of catch-up posts.  My goal is to start posting at least 3-4 days each week, now that I can look at the computer screen for more than five minutes at a time.  So here we go!  

Dan was scheduled to take a vacation week from work this week and we had a fun road trip planned to Atlanta, Georgia.  As I mentioned before, sickness invaded our house for about two weeks straight, so we decided to nix the trip.  SO grateful we did, it would have been the longest drive ever with 3 hacking people in the car!  Poor things.  I called mom last Sunday and learned that their beach house was renter-free this week.  On Thursday morning, we packed up the truck and made the 40 minute drive to the beach. The beach with kids is no small affair.  Because it's a beach HOUSE we pack food, paper goods, clothing, beach toys, books, technology, and the kitchen sink.  Just kidding.  :)  Sort of.  It's a lot of work get packed up, but we were so glad we did!

Times Square waiting to meet the Goeder's who are were in town for vacation

she's sweet on her big bubba  :)

at Nana and Papa's

Reecie says the rule is to "take one, leave one!"

de-sanding our feet before we go inside

on the trolley to breakfast

"Where's Millie?"

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everyone got some souvenir loot:  Graham-turtle necklace, Reecie-dolphin, Millie-manatee and a pinwheel (best $2 we've ever spent!!)

G and Daddy dug  a hot tub-complete with stairs!  

one thing the kids love best about the beach house?  Cable TV!  Disney channel all day long...

taking in another beautiful sunrise with the best man i know!

snuggles at sunrise with our earliest riser

I want to remember....

...the way Graham climbed into our bed with a sick, feverish Hannah Reece.  I walked in to find him tickling her back and singing "You Are My Sunshine".  A beautiful and rare sight in a season of mild but frequent sibling rivslry.  

...waking up this morning to Camille sleeping deeply on the love seat face down, head pushed up into the corner, feet dangling off the edge.  Next to her?  A pile of nerf assault rifles.  That stuff they say about the adaptability of third borns?  All true.  :)  

...the way Camille tells friends and family "my momma's havin' anodah baby."  With the sweetest little smile and quiet, monotone voice.  

...how good it felt to bag up 4 bags of clothes from my closet last night.  I slept so well!  I did save  one rubbermaid bin of clothes for post-pregnancy.  I had been hanging on to clothes that I didn't even care for, plus my body has changed so much after three pregnancies and thirty-five years of living (what is it about thirty-five?)  I refuse to feel pressure after this baby is born from unworn clothes in the closet!  Thankful for a body that can carry babies and another year of life, even with it's sluggish metabolism.  Thank you for rewarding us with children, Lord!

...that I am SO happy to have my love home for a whole week!  We have a little trip planned to Atlanta toward the end of the week to visit the GA. aquarium and Stone mtn.  but even if we are unable to go with the strep and cold currently making rounds in our home....it's all good.  I love seeing sweet hubs' face all day long. 

...that I think this all-day sickness is winding down!  I will be TWELVE weeks pregnant tomorrow and glory hallelujah, I'm happy to say that I can usually make it through the day without intense nausea and headache for the last few days.  The only time I feel it intensely is if I take a long afternoon nap-then the rest of the afternoon I feel like junk.  

I want to remember...

...late night conversations with Graham.  He loves his "Action Bible" and while it's not a comprehensive Bible, I am amazed at the details of people, places, and stories that he can recount.  I would guess that he spends between 2 and 6 hours a day buried in that Action Bible.

...the way Camille prefers to be nekkid.   :)  Eats nekkid, plays nekkid, sleeps nekkid.   She says she's "hot".  And also, she asks to take a bath at least three times a day.

...Hannah Reece copying her new friend Ginger's (mom's cell phone) number on an index card at Chick Fil A today.  It is so cool to see her friendship with Ginger blossoming-her first friend beyond cousins!

...the way Graham talks to and kisses/hugs my belly multiple times a day.  His favorite thing to whisper (besides "I love you, baby!") is "Hi baby!  Puuuuleeeeze grow a penis!"

...the way Camille looks so small in her big girl  bed.  She has been sleeping with Dan and I for about the last 6 months. Even though we know better!  :)  Sleep is valuable and I think we just did what we needed to to ensure that everyone slept all.night.long.  Anyway, Camille usually cries out once or twice, I go in and rub her back, cover her up and she rolls over and falls asleep again.  It's so sweet to see the girls together in their big-girl room, thumbs in their mouths and looking peaceful.

...that Hannah Reece has been craving time with me lately.  She prefers to stay behind when Daddy takes the other two on errands (she used to love errands with Daddy!)  and we read books, watch a show or make crafts together.  Her latest creation was her first scrapbook!  She did an awesome job!

So thankful.

Presidential Election Banter....from a 6 and 8 year old's perspective

After a short discussion about the presidential election this morning, Hannah Reece told me that if SHE were president she would change the rule "finders keepers-losers weepers" to "finders give backers".  "I would make a lot of rules more godly rules," she said.

Several days ago Johnathon and Graham were playing Lego at the kitchen table.  I overheard Graham asking Johnathon who he'd vote for.  "Obama?" he asked.  "No way," Johnathon said, "I'm voting for Mitt Romney."  "I think I know why,  because he's funny," Graham said, and they both started laughing.

number four

It's official....we're expecting baby number FOUR.  It is so surreal to write this!   Each time we try to grow our family, I prepare myself for months of waiting.  (even though when Dan and I look at each other cross-eyed and get pregnant-ha!)  The Lord met our desires with a "yes" very quickly, once again.  We are so excited (and freaking out a little, too.)  :)

I had picked a three-pack of tests because I knew we were trying and they were on sale.  :)  ha!  My how things have changed-I remember I bought the fanciest test to be sure it was perfectly positive with Graham.  So funny.   Anyway,  I took one about a week and a half ago, another one on Tuesday-both negative.  On Friday evening, Dan suggested that maybe  I  should take another one in the morning.  When I woke up Saturday morning, I headed straight for the bathroom, remembered the test, did my part and left it on the bathroom window sill.  I then curled back up under the covers with Millie.  TOTALLY thinking it would be negative but highly entertained with Dan's excitement.  About 30 seconds later I hear laughter...silence....and then out of now where he appears right next to me. "We're going to have a BABY!"  I  thought he was joking.  I was practically asleep.  After all, it was 6 o'clock in the morning!!  I jump out of bed (wide awake now) and bolt to the bathroom to see the test.  "Oh my WORD!"  Totally shocked.  Like heart beating fast, light headed shocked.  It was nuts.  Then this feeling of panic.  How will I do this?  Can I do this?  How will we do this?  And then the tears. Dan, was so sweet and reassuring.  This was not the response I expected to experience from myself.    The truth is, I can't do this on my own.  I'm at the end of my own means.  I am leaning hard into the Lord's strength and mighty arms and it is the BEST.  Exactly where I want to be-running to Him.  Peace washes over me.  And I am GRATEFUL.  Thank you, Lord for this child!

I snapped a video yesterday of Dan and I sharing the big news with Graham and Hannah Reece.  Graham likes to play hang-man, so we made a little game of it.  Here's the final result of our little game:

Graham was sooooo visibly excited (as expected)  :)  and is really hoping for a baby brother.  Hannah Reece was smiling, but a little quiet.  She has to internally process things and I love this quality about her.  She's thinking it through!  :)  She is concerned that the baby might be allergic to dairy, like Camille, and also where this baby will sleep, etc.  We've reassured her that the Lord has planned this child for our family and we trust Him wholeheartedly to guide us through the details.  (I need to remember this, too!)  Today she kissed my belly three times.  I think sweet sister is excited.  And she wants a boy...her bedroom's already maxed out for cryin' out loud!  ;)  Miss Millie is still unaware, and we hope to keep it that way for a bit longer.  In her chattery, innocent two-ness she might spill the beans before we're ready.

We let the kids pick who they wanted to tell.  Graham chose to tell Grandma + Grandpa, Hannah Reece chose to tell Nana and Papa.  Graham played hang-man the same way to tell Gma and Gpa and they were so surprised and excited!  Mom stopped by today and Hannah Reece told Nana right away.  Papa called to talk to her this evening, and she shared the news with him over the phone. This baby will make #6 grandchild for my parents and #11 for the Oedy's.  It's a tie-breaker on the Oedy side, there are 5 boys and 5 girls!  So for now, the big kids and our parents are the only ones who know.

I still can't believe it's true, but I praise God for this amazing gift from above.  We trust that children are a blessing from the Lord.  It is a joy to surrender our lives to Him as parents.  I am grateful that He will never leave or forsake us or our children.  Our faith is in the Lord alone.

***
Dear sweet baby,

We are thankful and excited about you!  I can't wait to smell your sweetness and hold you close.  It is a privilege to be your momma.  I am honored to be able to watch  your life unfold from a front-row seat.  Daddy is beside-himself excited about you.  I'm pretty sure he was jumping up and down (all 6'4" of his big self) in the bathroom when he peeked at the test first.   :)  He's always envisioned four children for us, so you may be the grand finale.  I pray that your precious body and soul would grow to be strong in wisdom and stature.  Your life is already a blessing and  joy to our family.  Your brother and sisters can't wait to meet you tiny one!

We love you,
Momma

Mom, lets talk.

These are some of the topics of before-sleep discussions.  I love our bedtime chats!

Which holiday is more important, Thanksgiving or Christmas?

Why did they choose Christmas to be Jesus' birthday?

Which is more powerful?  God or Jesus?

Why did they call Christmas, "Christmas?"